South African sprinting great Akani Simbine is continuing his fine form as he sets his sights on the World Championships in Tokyo in September.
In a blistering performance at the Diamond League in China on Saturday, 26 April, Simbine turned on his afterburners to win the first 100 metre race, beating the likes of Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo and former world champion Christian Coleman to the line.
Simbine crossed the line well ahead of the rest of the field in a time of 9.99 seconds.
AFTERBURNERS. TURNED. ON 😤
100m of straight power from Akani Simbine 🇿🇦 He shows oozing confidence stopping the clock ⏱️ in 9.99 seconds and takes the victory!
📸 Marta Gorczyńska for Diamond League AG#DiamondLeague 💎 #XiamenDL 🇨🇳 pic.twitter.com/wZAZ5kJsQF
— Wanda Diamond League (@Diamond_League) April 26, 2025
Simbine has been in excellent form, recently breaking Usain Bolt’s sub-10 record and posting a world lead of 9.90s at the Botswana Golden Grand Prix in Gaborone on 12 April.
ALSO READ: The GOAT! Akani Simbine breaks Usain Bolt’s 100m record
Simbine had taken a gamble by competing at the Diamond League, forgoing the chance to defend his 100m national crown at the SA championships in Potchefstroom this week.
On Thursday in Potch, two-time Olympian Gift Leotlela turned back the clock to win the men’s 100m title.
He surged past youngster Bayanda Walaza at the line to clock 9.99, with the teenager close behind in 10.00. Paris 2024 semi-finalist, Benjamin Richardson took third.
Athletics SA reportedly allowed Simbine to miss the National Championships, on the understanding that if a sprinter other than Richardson and Walaza cracks the 10.00sec automatic qualifying time for Tokyo, he will lose his spot in the team.
It remains to be seen how this week’s blistering performances from SA’s sprinting stars at home and abroad will impact who gets the final nod for the World Championships in September.
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